Copic winner announced
The winner of the Copic markers has posted. Click here to see if you are the winner:
Copic winner
photo from ndsl.org
A personal thank you to you all~
Your outpouring of love and encouragement means the world to me and my family. I read many of your comments to my mom today and I kind of get the feeling she might want to try stamping now. (That would be so good for her.) She didn't realize what kind of family the paper crafting community really is.
I have been brought to tears many times while reading your posts about parents and other loved ones you have lost or who are currently slipping away. So sad, yet we all go through this at some point. And I really thank you for sharing your stories. They really help so much.
I'd like to share with you a little story that the funeral director told my Mom.
My Dad's wishes were to be cremated, however, my Mom felt uneasy about the process. She asked the funeral director "if it would hurt."
Instead of giving her some short "no" or even possibly laughing or making her feel silly for asking her question, he responding with this story.
He said, "Ruth, imagine that Ben spent his life as a caterpillar. He had a great life as a caterpillar and now it was close to the time for that life to end. So he found a tree, made his cocoon and waited. Then, one day, his life as a caterpillar finally ended. The cocoon opened up and a beautiful butterfly flew out and away.
His body is that cocoon. You can cremate it, bury it or you can preserve it forever. But the butterfly is not there. He flew on to his new life."
That made us all feel a lot better. I hope these thoughts are of comfort to you as well.
Much love to you all,
Gina
Copic winner
photo from ndsl.org
A personal thank you to you all~
Your outpouring of love and encouragement means the world to me and my family. I read many of your comments to my mom today and I kind of get the feeling she might want to try stamping now. (That would be so good for her.) She didn't realize what kind of family the paper crafting community really is.
I have been brought to tears many times while reading your posts about parents and other loved ones you have lost or who are currently slipping away. So sad, yet we all go through this at some point. And I really thank you for sharing your stories. They really help so much.
I'd like to share with you a little story that the funeral director told my Mom.
My Dad's wishes were to be cremated, however, my Mom felt uneasy about the process. She asked the funeral director "if it would hurt."
Instead of giving her some short "no" or even possibly laughing or making her feel silly for asking her question, he responding with this story.
He said, "Ruth, imagine that Ben spent his life as a caterpillar. He had a great life as a caterpillar and now it was close to the time for that life to end. So he found a tree, made his cocoon and waited. Then, one day, his life as a caterpillar finally ended. The cocoon opened up and a beautiful butterfly flew out and away.
His body is that cocoon. You can cremate it, bury it or you can preserve it forever. But the butterfly is not there. He flew on to his new life."
That made us all feel a lot better. I hope these thoughts are of comfort to you as well.
Much love to you all,
Gina
Gina what a lovely story!!! I am so glad the funeral director handled the situation this way - I hope your Mom is more comfortable with your Dad's decision now! Much love and hugs your way!
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Gina,
Thanks for sharing such a wonderful story!
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That is beautiful. What a precious gift that funeral director gave your mother. Thank you for sharing it with us.
{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}
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Gina, that is such a beautiful story. I am going to share that with others. What a kind person that funeral director must be.
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Gina, How beautifully said, I know that he is free and like my dad he will lightly touch down on you and make you smile and remember him fondly. Never forget that he is always watching over you and how proud he must be. You are a sweet and gentle soul. thanks for all you share with us. You inspire us all.
Debi Pippin
Florida
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I pray for comfort to you and your family during the next few days. They will be both difficult and joyful. Having been through this also, there is happiness in knowing he lived a full and happy life. blessings to you and yours.
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What a wonderful way of looking at our passing. I know it's hard now to lose your Dad, but down the way you will only remember the hurt of losing your Dad without the intensity. I lost my Dad 2 years ago, but in reality earlier than that due to the dementia. It does get easier, but no less of a loss.
Thanks for the great story, I knew there was a reason I loved butterflies!!
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Gina,
Thank you for sharing that beautiful story the funeral director told your mother. What a perfect analogy comparing the body to the cocoon of the butterfly. And that one reason why I like to use butterflies so often on my sympathy cards and also because they are a symbol of the risen Christ. What a comfort and I hope for you and your family the peace that passes understanding!
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Wow, Gina! I LOVE how he put that! I'll continue to pray for you and your family as you begin to heal. Thank you for sharing your life with us! Katie
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what a beautiful touching way to talk about that. I am impressed with that funeral director. Those men and women, are so kind and caring.
Thanks for sharing that lovely story with us.
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When I was reading this post I was crying...
Thank you for sharing a story from director...
Thank you for sharing your life with us...
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Dear Gina,
My deepest sympathies go out to you and your family. Treasure the time you had with your father the night before. My father died unexpectedly and I didn't get the change to say good-bye. It sounds like you and your father had a wonderful father-daughter relationship. He will be watching over you always. I so love what the funeral director told your mother. What a caring and sensitive man. I will remember that. My prayers and thoughts will be with you and your family as you go through the next few days or so.
Sincerely,
Linda Cichowski
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Gina, You are a strong, loving person. What a wonderful illustration the funeral director gave. What love to offer beauty in a time of such heartache. I've been praying for you and your family throughout the day. I shouldn't have been surprised that you posted so soon. Your strength and light is just beaming through for all to see. God bless you, my friend. I'm glad your mother has you to help her through this rough time.
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Wow...that was absolutely beautiful and so touching. Thanks so much for sharing that. I'm so sorry for your loss. There are just no words...
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Thank you for sharing the story that the funeral director shared with your mom. It was very comforting to hear it again. We often talk about my nephew (who passed away last Oct) and how he must be enjoying his new life. No pain, no fear, no cancer to hold him back. Some day my daughter will be free from her lifetime of pain and other many losses. Someday she will be whole too.
((hugs)) to you, Gina. I hope your mom does start stamping and/or scrapbooking. I'm so glad she has you as her daughter.
Nancy
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What a beautiful story, thank you for sharing!
Hugs Anja
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What a beautiful story. Thanks so much for sharing it with us. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family right now.
{{{hugs}}}
Chris
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Gina I am so sorry of your loss. The catapiller story is so beautiful. You and your family are in my thoughts & prayers.
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That is such a beautiful story Gina,I'm sure it will bring comfort to your family and to many of us! TFS!
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Thank you Gina for sharing this with us. So often we don't know the right things to say. What a blessing to your mother that the director was so gentle and understanding. What a blessing.
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I liked your story of becoming a butterfly. The best part of sharing your dad with us was when you crawled in bed with him in his last stages of being a cocoon.
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That was a beautiful analogy! Hope your Mom is doing OK. Prayers are with you and your entire family. Pat B.
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Gina, Isn't it so strange how in times of sorrow, our grief and the words people share with you and you in return share with others, again brings support to others. My mother in law died the same day as your father. She also fought a courageous battle with cancer. She was also at Hospice. Her name was Ruth. She too decided to wait till everyone stepped out of her Hospice room to break free of her cocoon. She was not the typical MIL. She was my mentor, my best friend, she was the mother in heart for 43 years. She too was a rare jewel, She taught me so many lessons in life and so many more in death. We lay her to rest today, weather has delayed services till today. No one can remove our pain, I wished that when they broke free from the cocoon, and the pain of the cancers that they endured, that they could also have taken our pain and grief with them. But then the memories would not be as strong. My prayers to you and your mother Ruth. Gina, we also are strong, (we just don't feel it very much right yet) we will also win this battle through the Grace of God, as they did.
Love & Prayers
Shelia
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What a wonderful analogy! Beautiful story. I too felt a bit uneasy about cremation with my dad but back then I did have a hunch that it really is ok
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Oh Gina,
What a beautiful story, thank you so much. It totally describes the process and in a way everyone can relate to. I remember my mom telling my young daughters that their grandpa had not left them, for everynight they could walk outside and look up in the sky and when they found the brightest star they would be able to see him looking down and watching over them. They were able to relate to that and every night they would check out the sky and with a ton of comfort say "there is grandpa". I was so grateful to my mom for that. I love the butterfly story and the way it so explains what happens. Thanks for sharing.....
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God Bless that funeral director, he is in the right business!!
when my dad died, my youngest was very concerned that we had buried grandpa in "up sleeves" (her term for short sleeves) and that we needed to get him out to put on a coat for the winter...
but my favorite analogy is as we rode along in the car she asked me if grandpa was riding on the clouds... a wonderfully comforting thought from the innocence of a 4 year old. now she's 21 and still believes he's riding clouds.
God Bless your family.
{{{{hugs}}}}}
janice
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This is a beautiful statement. How true is this.
I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you!
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What a beautiful analagy. What a wonderful person that funeral director must be, he has the heart and caring that goes with his career it is not just a job. My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family.
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Thank you for sharing the story of the butterfly. that was a beautiful way to put it. I will share this story with many people. You are still in my dthoughts and prayers.
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Oh my, I'm crying. What an incredible analogy the funeral director used. I LOVE when they're truly there for the family and help through the process. Losing a loved one is sooooooooo hard; my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. So happy your dad is in a better place with eyes that can see, ears that can hear. I love to think of them in Heaven singing with the angels, watching over us and dining with our most Heavenly Son...Jesus!
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sounds like you had a wonderful funeral director there. Isn't it wonderful how God shows us peace through all the people he puts in our lives!
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What a lovely way to explain cremation and whether it hurts. This gentleman knows how to deal with the sorrows we go through at this time and how to ease the pain. I don't think I'll ever see another butterfly without remembering this story. Thanks for sharing. May God continue to comfort you and your family at this time.
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Gina,
What a beautiful thought. I am often amazed at the kindness of strangers. I am thrilled to know that in a world of turmoil, and during your time of deep sadness, you have been touched by the kindness of others. As I have watched you do one generous act after another the kind of person you are will be a shinning star in your fathers legacy. Wishing you God's peace through you difficult time.
Michelle
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What a beautiful story Gina. That's a great way to think of it. I hope your Mom will consider stamping. She would have the best teacher.
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Gina,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience with us here. My sister passed away in October from renal failure and her request was also cremation. I too wondered "if it would hurt", how she must have felt going through that final process. But the funeral director's words and analogy of a butterfly in a cocoon are so gentle and comforting. Thanks again for sharing.
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Gina, what a wonderful, comforting story. Thanks for sharing it with us. See, from reading these posts how many lives it has touched? I copied & pasted the story to my sister. As I've told you before, we lost our Dad back in July, and he was also cremated. What a peaceful, comforting thought. Thank you again.
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Gina, what a beautiful story and illustration. Thank you so much for sharing it. I am keeping this one in my file to reread and remember and maybe someday I will be able to offer it to someone as a form of comfort.
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Gina...I am so sorry to hear of your Dad's passing...but the story about the butterfly is beautiful and so true. Praying for you and your family as you go through this time...
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Gina - thank you for sharing that lovely story. What a kind person the funeral director was for sharing that with your mother. I have never quite been comfortable with cremation and his story helped me to think of it in a much different way. Blessings and peace to you and your family.
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What a wonderful and comforting illustration used by the director. I like the way it was put. (I had never thought about it before, and even tho my mother (who was cremeted) has been gone now for 12 years, I will now think of this story when she is in my thoughts (and, yes, even 12 years later, she is in there often....she passed away before she got to see her grandchildren born, so with each milestone, event or daily happening, I think of her and how she would have loved to be a part of it all)
You and your family are still in my thoughts/prayers
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What a great story! Such a beautiful way to put it and to put all of your fears at ease.
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Thank you Gina for sharing that wonderful story! Cremation is something that is done quite frequently in my family and I go between being okay with it to very uncomfortable. I'll think of your story the next time the discussion comes up.
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That is such a beautiful story. My prayers go out to you and your family.
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What a wonderful story - it gave me chills it was so beautiful.
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Gina, thank you for sharing this amazing story from such a caring funeral director. I will forever think of my father when I see a butterfly now. You and your caring family are in my prayers.
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Sorry about your loss Gina!
It is hard to face the fact that you don't get to see that caterpillar anymore even though you know that the butterfly is basking in the sun somewhere beautiful, isn't it?
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Gina, What a delightful story! I bought your butterfly stamp set for the sentiment, "without change there would be no butterflies." I had it in mind for a friend going through a divorce; however amicable, they are nonetheless very painful. She loves it! But the story made me think of my mother who taught psychiatric nursing at Georgetown University for over 25 years. Every now and then she would teach a course and open it to the college, on Death and Dying. One year a young man was in the class and she asked why he registered; he explained that he was going into the family business -- Funeral Direction -- and dealing with grief of clients was very important to his business!
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Gina and Family,
I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved Father.
My Mom has been been having mini strokes and seizures for 2 years now.
Your funeral director is a very wise and sensitive man. What a wonderful and loving story for your Mom.
God Bless her, you and your beautiful
Family.
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That is just about the best explanation I've ever heard. Thank you so much for sharing.
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Gina, what a kind person to say such gentle things to your mother at a time like this.
Your Mom definitely start stamping! It would be so wonderful. I hope everyday gets easier for you and your family. *hugs*
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Gina thanks for sharing that story. Your mom is so lucky to have you and you both are lucky to have such a kind funeral director. I also think this explanation is a wonderful way to explain this natural process to children also.
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What a beautiful way to give such comfort to your mother at a time when she needed it most. The funeral director was so very kind and sensitive. Thanks for sharing that tender moment with us.
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Thanks so much for sharing that analogy. What a great thing he did for your mom and family - and through you, for all of us! Prayers and God's Grace on all of you. Kris, Wadsworth, OH
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Thank you for sharing that story. My husband and I want to be cremated but our daughter does not like the idea. I wouldn't have some time ago, but today, that's what we want. This is a great explanation and I love butterflies! God Bless You!!!
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Gina:
That is a wonderful story indeed. What a beautiful way of wording it. Sounds like it helped you and your Mom alot.
This is such a difficult time for you and your family and I really hope that the fond memories will keep you all strong and together.
Maybe your Mom would like to be a stamper now is wonderful. She is already part of the stamping community through you. We all feel your pain.
Thinking of you in these difficult time.
Hugs
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Gina, I am so sorry for your loss, but so glad to hear your story about the funeral director. What a bright gem in the sadness.
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...and if nothing changed,there would be no buterflies.
Love, Carol Neuman
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Gina, What a wonderful explanation the funeral director gave your Mom. That is such a beautiful way to think of our loved ones. My Dad and one of my brothers have both been cremated and I never liked the idea but had to because of finances but this story about the butterfly and cocoon makes it so much easier to accept. Thank you so uch for sharing this with us. God Bless you, Your Mom and the rest of your wonderful family.
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That is such a beautiful story. One of my uncles was cremated about 2 1/2 years ago now. At the end of the funeral, we were all at a loss. They were not burying him until later, so we all stood outside the church watching the hearse drive him away. It was so sad to not have an end at that point. I think that story would have helped alot of us. Thanks for sharing with all of us.
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Gina,
What a glorious description of new life with Christ. What a kind heart the funeral director has to explain this beautiful picture for a grieving family member. Your father's legacy will now live through you as you tell others of his life...as you have shared with us. I pray that the celebration of the life your father lived will help ease the pain of his loss. May God bless you and your family.
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Gina, my thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family over your loss. Isn't it amazing how strangers can touch our lives and lift us up when we most need it. I often think of this quote when I think of passed loved ones and hope it may be of some help to you and your family. "When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight". ~Kahlil Gibran
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A beautiful story. God bless you and yours.
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Wow...what a beautiful thought. That funeral director is a very special man. My Pops was cremated, it was the best. For the first year following his death, he was on the entertainment center, which was fitting. You see Pops was cremated with his 'bible'-> the tv guide!
Hugs....Patty
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thank you for sharing this story...
It has helped even me in coming to terms with my Dad's and someday my Mom's decision for cremation..I have had such a hard time with that...
Thank you Gina.
God Bless you and your Mom...
I'm praying for you both,
Mary Friederichsen
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My condolances to you and yours..What a beautiful way of having this put to your MoM..and what comfort it must of given her..ty for sharing this..loves ya..Gail
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Gina, That story is beautiful. I may use it at work, to help loved ones deal with their loss. Take care.
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So beautifully put! Thanks for sharing that Gina, it helps me to, and your picture on todays post just tops it off. I was glad to see your post today, I've been thinking of you, and just wanted to know that you are okay.
Big Hugs, and one for Mom too
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What a beautiful story--thanks for much for sharing that with us
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Thank you for the analogy about the catepillar and the butterfly. I feel the same way. What a beautiful way for your mom to remember your dad.
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Gina,
So sorry to hear about your dad. He is no longer suffering here on earth, try to find comfort in that. My thoughts are with you and your family. Deepest sympathy and God Bless you all.
Kim
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I will have to remember what that funeral director told your mom. That is a great way to think of it.
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Beautiful story. I'm glad that brought some comfort to you and your mom.
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Thoughts and prayers to you and your family during this difficult time. Thank you for sharing this beautiful story and the memories and stories of your family and father over these past few months..may these wonderful memories bring you comfort during this time. {{Hugs}}
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Wow! I love the illustration of the butterfly! How amazing is that? I will certainly have to remember that one. Thanks so much for sharing it with all of us.
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What a beautiful analogy to make! I hope it helped your mom. Nice of you to share it with us. It's such a difficult time for your family - hugs to all of you.
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This man gave you such an awesome answer. It makes me feel better as my DH is considering cremation. My heart goes out to you and your family. Much love and prayers are sent your way.
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What beautiful, kind words! THank you for sharing.
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Gina, thank you for sharing the funeral director's story with us. I am crying right now reading it but it definitely gives me another way to think about my mothers passing 17yrs ago.
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Oh my. What a beautiful story of 'change' into beauty! It's funny how in your own grief, you've helped me to better accept the cremation of my darling FIL a couple of years ago. Blessings and continued prayers to you and your family, Gina.
~Tex
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Thanks for sharing the butterfly analogy. I'm glad it brought comfort to your family. Now you can think of your father as a butterfly...flittering around...watching over you.
Hugs,
Charmaine
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Congrats to Etha on the Copics win!!
Your funeral director is a wonderful man. He handled the situation with your mother beautifully and he's absolutely right. DH & I both want to be cremated & share that same philosophy - it's not the body that made the life, but the soul. I hope your mother is resting easier with the decision now.
Continuing to keep your family in my thoughts & prayers...
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Congrats Etha!
Gina, that was an absolutely beautiful little anecdote given by the funeral director - I'm sure it put your mom's thoughts & fears to rest about the cremation!
Always in my thoughts & prayers!
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I have followed your blog for some time. So sorry to hear of the loss of your father. My condolences to you and your family.
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I love that butterfly metaphor. I'm so sorry about your loss, but as you said, your Dad can see and hear again, he doesn't suffer anymore, he is not alone, and you will all be reunited again some day. It's great that you got to spend a last Christmas all together.
You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers, especially your Mom.
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Thank you for sharing that beautiful story with us Gina. I think that funeral director is fulfilling his calling , bless him and bless your mother and your family. You all are in my prayers.
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Gina,
I was so touched by your words. I cried through your entire Blog today as I so remember losing my father. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.
Sharon
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What a beautiful thing for the funeral director to share with you and your family.
It reminds me of the quote "What a caterpillar calls the end of the world, the Master calls a butterfly."
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Great site. I like the way you explain everything without using complicated terms.
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